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The Dual Nature of Light

Light has a dual nature.In some instances it behave like a wave and has wave properties such as diffraction. Electromagnetic radiation has a wave speed, frequency and wavelength.The wave equation is:c = λ fwhere c is the wave speed, λ is the wavelength and f is the frequency.
In exhibiting the photoelectric effect light demonstrates that it has particle like properties.Light exists as packets or quanta of energy called photons.The energy E of a photon is given by:

E = h fwhere h is the Planck constant and f is the frequency.

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Specification: AQA Physics (7407), AS-level, 3.2.2.4 Wave-particle duality. Topic: The Photoelectric Effect.

Key terms in this lesson

Diffraction
The spreading out of waves as they pass through a gap or around an obstacle.
Interference
The formation of points of cancellation and reinforcement where two coherent waves overlap and superpose.
Polarisation
The restriction of the oscillations of a transverse wave to a single plane; only transverse waves can be polarised.
Refraction
The change of direction of a wave as it crosses a boundary between two media in which it travels at different speeds.

More in The Photoelectric Effect

All 19 lessons in The Photoelectric Effect · All AQA AS-level Physics topics